Steam generator



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Jan. 29, 1957 Filed Oct. 22, 1955 [um a; n1

J. D. TUCKER 2,779,315

STEAM GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l R. JESSE DEE rue/rm BY 7M W W ATTORNEYSJan. 29, 1957 J. D. TUCKER 2,779,315

STEAM GENERATOR Filed 001;. 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JESSEDEE TUCKER BY 7M70M W ATTORNEYS STEAM GENERATOR Jesse Dee Tucker,Patterson, Calif. Application October 22, 1953, Serial No. 387,727

5 Claims. (Cl. 122- 208) This invention relates to newandusefulimprovements in steam generators, and more ,par'ticularly rlatesto a" generator for producing high pressure, superheated. steam. Onerespect in which the ,present invention is distinguishedfrom other steamgeneratorsisthat the water entering the generator is initially vaporizedbyinjectio'n through a high-pressure nozzle havinga relatively smallorifice which breaks up the water into a fog of fine One of the-featuresof the inventionis the provision .of

a tier of pairs of plates,the meeting surfaces of the plates providingvery thin passageways through which the water vapor and steam travel.'Alternatepairs of plates areannular and circularin shape,.the vaporfirst passing radially outwardly'in the uppermost plate (which iscircular), thence downwardly to the outside of the second pair of plates(which is annular), then horizontally inwardly of the second pair ofplates, then downwardly and inwardly of the third highest pair of plates(which is circular), and alternately inwardly and outwardlyrasthe steamprogresses downwardly in the generator.

The peripheries of the circular platesare spaced inwardly from the innerwalls of the shell of the generator thus providing a space for thepassage of hot .gases whereas the peripheries'of the annular plates arein contact with the interior of the shell of the generator, thusdirecting the gases through the opening inthe center of the annularplates. From the foregoing, which ishereinafter described in greaterdetail, it will be seem that the passage of the gases thus likewise iscircuitous.

The result of the construction of the plates is the:provision of asimple and inexpensive generatorha'ving a low fuel consumption andproducing a very largetvolume of steam for a small weightand volume ofgenerator-unit.

Further, there is no danger ofcracking the equipment because waterenters'the generator in a vaporvstate,:thus

eliminating the danger of conventionahboilers which be used by unskilledpersonnel and under conditions which have heretofore precluded thewidespreaduse of steam generators of thisgeneral type such 'a's in motorcars and the like.

nited States Patent 0 2,779,315 Patented J an. 29, 1957 Thesteamsgenerator hereinafter described has a down draft whereby the draftis automatically controlled to maintain'an eventemperature within thegenerator. It will be understood thatthe generator may incorporate apilot flame which ignites "the burner so that it may be turned on andoff at any time. This enables the generator to beheld at an eventemperature and makes the device responsive to amanually controlledthrottle in the steam discharge line.

Other objects of thepresent invention will become apparent upon reading'the -following specification and referring to the accompanying drawingsin which similar charactersof referencerepresent corresponding parts ineach i of v the several 'views.

In athe drawings .Fig. .1 is a-vertical-midsection through the device.

Fig. 2 is'a horizontalsection taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig1.

Fig; 3 is a horizontal:section taken substantially along line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

The present invention employs a cylindrical steel shell 11, suitablyinsulated by means of glass wool or other insulation lZ- on theexterior, in and upon which the other elements of the generator aremounted. At the top of theshell is a down-draft gasburner 13, the burnerbeing annularinshape with th'e jets '14 of the burner directeddownwardly inside the casing 11. Gas and-primary air enterth'rough pipe16. A manifold 17 surrounds the casing below the ib'urner, the manifoldcommunicating with the interior of thetb'urnerby means-of ports 18 m thecasingrwall. Air'entersthe manifold and the interior of thecasingthrou'glnairinletduct-19, the flow ofair being regulated by damper 21,which is manually or automaticallycontrolled by means-hereinafterdescribed. The primary ainandtsecondary air entering'through ports18-support "combustion in the combustion chamber 22, thehotrgases-passing downwardly-in a circuitouspath as hereinafter .more"fully set forth and "being drawn off through afiue 23*connected to thebottom plate 24 which closes off theloWer end of the casing. A- damper26in the flue 23 likewise regulatesthe flow of combustion gases throughthe generator. The burner construction dfthe generator is subje'ctto'con'siderable variation, the above-described structure being "apresently preferred construction.

Mounted in the casing. below the combustion chamber 22zis a tierofhorizontallystacked pairs of plates; Each plate of each pair of;platesis spaced apart a-short distancefrom itsmate; there being a thinpassageway through which steam-or water may pass from: the water inletlocated at the. top of the generatort'o the steam outlet at thebottombf: the generator. The topmost pair of plates 31 and 32 is mounted immediately below the combustion chamber =22,'the-upper plates 31being provided with anupwardlyi'extending inlet riser 33 which receiveswater discharged'from nozzle'34 ashereinafter set forth. Locatedinthe'inlet riser 33-is=a defiectorfifi, conical in shape, whichdeflects the water radially outwardly through the :narrow' passageway-37 between the upper plate 31 and the lower plate 32. Adjacenttheperipheryof the pairof plates is anannular enlarged collector ring 38in'which water vapor and steam collects. It will be'noted, particularlywith reference to Fig.2, that an annular space 39vexists: aroundtherperiphery of the topmost pair ice of plates 31. and32, the hot gasesof the combustion chamberv passing downwardly through this annularspace. The second pair of plates 41 ancl'42, positioned below thetopmost :platesvfil and 32, are substantially annular in shape, theuppermost plate 41 beingjoinedto the interior of th'e'cylindricalcasing-11to act as a' baflle so thathot gases are directedinwardly and thence through thecircular hole 43 at the center of theannular plates. The annular second series of plates has an annularcollector ring 44 near its periphery which is connected by a pluralityof vertical pipes 46 with the ring 38. A second or inner collector ring47 is formed between the second pair of plates adjacent the innerdiameter thereof. Between the first and second annular rings 44 and 47is a thin passageway 48 through which vapor and steam pass, it beingunderstood that the passageway 48 may be corrugated rather than straightas is the case of the passageway 37 of the uppermost pair of plates.

The third pair of plates 51 and 52 positioned below the second pair iscircular rather than annular, there being a gap 53 around the peripheryof the third pair of plates between the periphery and the inside of thecasing 11 so that the gases which pass through the hole 43 in the centerof the second pair of plates are directed around the outside of thethird pair of plates. The third pair of plates has an inner collectorring 54 which is connected by means of pipes 56 to the inner ring 47 ofthe second pair of plates. The third pair of plates'likewise has anouter collector ring 57 and the inner and outer rings are connected by athin passageway 58 between the two plllates 51 and 52 which, if desired,may be corrugated in s ape.

The fourth pair of plates resembles the second pair 41 and 42 in shapeand function, and the fifth pair resembles the third 51 and 52,alternate pairs of plates being substantially the same.

The lowermost pair of plates 51 and 52 is connected directly to thesteam outlet 59 by means of pipe 61 connected to ring 57.

From the foregoing description of the pairs of plates which are disposedinside the cylindrical casing 11, it will be observed that the flow ofhot gases from the combusion chamber 22 down to the outlet fiue 23 iscircuitous in that the gases pass around the outside of the first pairof plates 31 and 32 and then through the hole 43 in the center of thesecond pair of plates 41 and 42 and thence outwardly through the gap 53at the periphery of the third pair of plates 51 and 52, and alternatelythereafter around the periphery and through the center of the variouspairs of plates. At the same time the flow of vapor and steam is alsodownwardly in a circuitous path. The vapor entering through the riser 33is deflected outwardly toward the periphery of the first pair of plates31 and 32, then toward the center of the second pair of plates 41 and42, then toward the outside of the third pair of plates, finallydownwardly through the various pairs of plates to the steam outlet 59.The circuitous path of hot gases and vapor insures the heating of thevapor and steam to an extremely high temperature which produces asuperheated steam at the steam outlet.

Further, to increase the etficiency of the steam transfer, a series ofdiffusers 66 which are frusto-conical and downwardly pointed depend fromthe first, third and fifth pairs of plates toward the circular hole 43of the evennumbered pairs of plates. Diffusers 66 are held in positionby rivets 65 attaching same to the odd-numbered plates. These diffusershelp to deflect the gases in their proper path and also are heatedthereby, the diffusers being welded to the lowermost of the oddmumberedpairs of plates, the heat absorbed by the diifusers being transmitted tothe plates and hence assist in heating the vapor and steam in the waterpassageway.

An additional feature is the employment of long rivets 67 which passthrough the pairs of plates, the shanks 68 extending beyond the bottomof the lower plate of each pair. These rivets also are heated by thepassage of hot gases and the heat is transmitted to the vapor and steamin the passageways between the pairs of plates. The heads of the rivets67 are welded to the top of the uppermost plate and the shanks 68 of therivets are welded at their midpoints to the underside of the lowermostplate of the various pairs of plates so that steam will not, escapethrough the rivet holes.

Further, to prevent escape of steam from the passageways between thepairs of plates, it will be noted that the joints 71 where the platesare joined are welded, the meeting edges of the adjacent plates beinggrooved in a V-groove and filled by the weld.

Water vapor is injected in the inlet riser 33 through nozzle 34. Thenozzle comprises a cylindrical housing 76 the lower end of which isthreaded into the upper 1 end of the riser 33. The housing is partiallyclosed off at the bottom by orifice plate 77 having a small-diametercircular hole 78 in the center. A needle 79 having a conical point 81 isdisposed inside the housing 76 and held in position by guide 82, theneedle being biased i downwardly by spring 83, the tension of which isadjusted by screw 84, so that the point 81 is biased to close off theorifice 78. The middle of the shank of the needle is surrounded by asleeve 86, there being a cylindrical annular passageway 87 between theouter diameter of the sleeve 86 and the inner diameter of the housing76, and the water inlet pipe 88 is connected into said annularcylindrical passageway. The water in pipe 88 is forced by means of ahigh-pressure pump 91 which may be a direct-action multiplereciprocating pump or gear pump. Adjustment screw 84 is regulative tohold the needle 79 closed until pressure of a predetermined amountbuilds up in the chamber 89 at the lower end of the housing. When suchpressure builds up sufliciently, the needle 79 rises against resistanceof the spring 83 to the position shown in Fig. 1 and water is dischargedthrough the orifice 78 in the bottom of the housing, the water passingdownwardly through the inlet riser 33 in the vapor state. As soon as thepressure in chamber 89 falls below the predetermined amount set by theadjustment of screw 84, the valve closes. The operation of the nozzle isthus such that the water is injected under a high pressure which causesthe water to break up into a fine fog of vapor. The vapor of water ismore efficiently heated than would be a stream or jet of water andfurther, the plates are less likely to be cracked if a fog of vapor isemployed.

The control means for the device may be regulated by variations in thetemperature of the uppermost pair of plates 31 and 32, the uppermostpair being the most accurate for such purpose. Accordingly, a pair ofradially opposed studs 96 are fitted into sleeves 98 which pass throughapertures 97 in the casing. The inner ends of studs 96 are in contactwith the top pair of plates 31 and 32, and said studs project outwardlythrough apertures 97 in the casing. Sleeve 98 surrounds the studs toprevent flame and hot gases from escaping through the aperture in thecasing and insulating material 99 surrounds the stud within the sleeve98. Exteriorly of the casing is a semi-circular yoke 101 afiixed bybracket 102 to a stationary object. The outer ends of the yoke arepivotally connected by pins 103 to arcuate arms 104. The outer ends ofstuds 96 bear against said arms 104 close to the pivot pins 193 so thata compound leverage arrangement produces a relatively greater movementof the remote ends of arms 104 for a small expansion or contraction ofthe studs 96. A control lever 106 is pivotally connected by links 108 tothe outer ends of the two arcuate arms 104. The point of connection ofpivot pins 109 which connect lever 106 to links 108 is equidistant withrespect to pivot pin 107. The efiect of increase in temperature withinthe generator is to cause expansion of studs 96 which results, asclearly appears from Fig. 2, in a counterclockwise movement of controllever 106, this movement being resisted by spring 111. Conversely, acooling within the generator results in a clockwise movement of controllever 106. Control lever 106 may be connected by means of a rod 112which is pivotally connected at its outer end to valve 113 in gas intakeline 16. By proper arrangement of leverage, the temperature within thegenerator may be maintained constant by the governing means heretoforedescribed or other means which will readily occur to one skilled in thisart.

Although I have described my invention in some detail by way ofillustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it isunderstood that certain changes and modifications may be practicedwithin the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A steam generator comprising a cylindrical casing, a burner in thefirst end of said casing, means for regulating the heat emitted fromsaid burner, a flue for spent gases at the second end of said casing, aplurality of superposed pairs of plates mounted in said casing betweensaid burner and said flue, each pairof plates being grooved out toprovide an enclosed passageway for watervapor and steam, a plurality ofpipes providing communication from the passageway in one pair of platesto the passageway in the next pair of plates, said plates and pipesproviding a circuitous pathway for water vapor and steam, one pair ofplates being annular and its outer edge engaging said casing and theadjacent pair of plates being disk-shaped and its outer edge beingspaced inwardly from said casing, conical difiusers projecting down fromthe bottom of a pair of disk-shaped plates into the hole in theunderlying pair of annular plates thereby providing a circuitous pathwayfor hot gases produced by said burner, means for injecting water vaporin the passage Way in the plates at the first end of said casing, saidmeans including a high-pressure pump and a nozzle and a pipe connectingsaid pump and nozzle, and a steam discharge line communicating with thepassageway in the pair of plates at the second end of said casing.

2. A steam generator comprising a cylindrical casing, a burner in thefirst end of said casing, means for regulating the heat emitted fromsaid burner, a fiue for spent gases at the second end of said casing, aplurality of coaxial pairs of plates mounted in said casing between saidburner and said flue, each pair of plates being grooved out to providean enclosed passageway for water-vapor and steam, a plurality of pipesproviding communication from the passageway in one pair of plates to thepassageway in the next pair of plates, said plates and pipes providing acircuitous pathway for water-vapor and steam, said plurality of coaxialpairs of plates being formed with an inner and an outer annularconnecting ring and a thin radial connecting passageway, one set of saidpipes connecting the outer annular ring of the first pair of plates withthe outer annular ring of the second pair of plates, a second set ofsaid pipes connecting the inner annular ring of said second pair ofplates with the inner annular ring of the third pair of plates, meansfor injecting water vapor in the passageway in the plates at the firstend of said casing, said means including a high-pressure pump and anozzle and a pipe connecting said pump and nozzle, and a steam dischargeline communicating with the passageway in the pair of plates at thesecond end of said casing.

3. A steam generator comprising a cylindrical casing, a burner in thefirst end of said casing, means for regulating the heat emitted fromsaid'burner, a flue for spent gases at the second end of said casing, aplurality of coaxial pairs of plates mounted in said casing between saidburner and said flue, each pair of plates being grooved out to providean enclosed passageway for water-vapor and steam, a plurality of pipesproviding communication from the passageway in one pair of plates to thepassageway in the next pair of plates, means for injecting water vaporinthe passageway in the plates at the first end of said casing, saidlast mentioned means including a highpressure pump and a nozzle and apipe connecting said pump and nozzle, said means for injecting watervapor also comprising a housing, an orifice plate, means for conveyingvapor discharged through the orifice in said plate to the nearest pairof plates, a needle, resilient means biasing said needle to close offthe orifice in said orifice plate, said housing being provided with achamber behind said orifice, a sleeve reciprocable in said housing abovesaid chamber and providing a guide for said needle, said sleeve beingsmaller than said chamber, means for supplying water under pressure intosaid chamber and a steam discharge line communicating with thepassageway in the pair of plates at the second end of said casing.

4. A steam generator comprising a cylindrical casing, a burner in thefirst end of said casing, means for regu lating the heat emitted fromsaid burner, a flue for spent gases at the second end of said casing, aplurality of coaxial pairs of plates mounted in said casing between saidburner and said flue, each pair of plates being grooved out to providean enclosed passageway for water vapor and steam, a plurality of pipesproviding communication from the passageway in one pair of plates to thepassageway in the next pair of plates, means for injecting water vaporin the passageway in the plates at the first end of said casing, saidmeans including a high-pressure pump and a nozzle and a pipe connectingsaid pump and nozzle, a steam discharge line communicating with thepassageway in the pair of plates at the second end of said casing, astud fixed to one of said pairs of plates and projecting out throughsaid casing, a lever, means pivotally mounting said lever, said studbeing positioned to engage said lever, resilient means biasing saidlever into contact with said stud, whereby thermal changes within saidcasing cause expansion or contraction of said stud and cause pivotalmovement of said lever, and means actuated by said lever for governingsaid means for regulating the heat emitted from said burner.

5. A steam generator comprising cylindrical casing, a burner in thefirst end of said casing, means for regulating the heat emitted fromsaid burner, a flue for spent gases at the second end of said casing, aplurality of coaxial pairs of plates mounted in said casing between saidburner and said flue, each pair of plates being grooved out to providean enclosed passageway for water-vapor and steam, a plurality of pipesproviding communication from the passageway in one pair of plates to thepassageway in the next pair of plates, means for injecting watervapor inthe passageway in the plates at the first end of said casing, said meansincluding a high-compression pump and a nozzle and a pipe connectingsaid pump and nozzle, a steam discharge line communicating with thepassageway in the pair of plates at the second end of said casing, apair of diametrically opposed studs fixed to one of said pairs of platesand projecting out through said casing, in diametrically oppositedirections, a yoke curved around half said casing, a pair of leverspivotally mounted on opposite ends of said yoke, said studs beingpositioned so that one stud engages one lever and the other stud theother lever, means biasing said levers into contact with said studs,whereby thermal changes within said casing cause expansion orcontraction of said studs and cause pivotal movement of said levers, andmeans actuated by said levers for governing said means for regulatingthe heat emitted from said burner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS187,093 Bradley Feb. s, 1877 518,101 Gillet Apr. 10, 1894 620,994 TesteMar 14, 1899 683,366 Woerner Sept. 24, 1901 848,476 Loudon Mar. 26, 1907979,356 Thompson Dec. 20, 1910 1,809,920 Woodward June 16, 1931 FOREIGNPATENTS 4,419 Great Britain Dec. 21, 1875

